February 13th is International Winter Bike to Work Day! Let’s celebrate!
7-9am: Stop by on your commute or just go for a ride to start your day with coffee (courtesy of Cafe Domestique), donuts, and good vibes! Look for the Madison Bikes tent just off the Cap City Trail near Machinery Row.
4-6 pm: Happy hour at Working Draft (1129 E Wilson St.). Come grab a drink and hang out! Don’t forget your bicycle benefits sticker for 10% off.
Thanks to all of our sponsors for making events like this possible: UW Health, MG&E Foundation, Cricket Design Works, RoundTrip Program / Greater Madison MPO, Griessmeyer Law, Slow Roll Cycles, Sokol Advanced EyeCare, Working Draft Beer Company, Summit Credit Union, Saris Equipment, LLC and ZenBusiness
The first few dry leaves have fallen off my birch tree. My daughter has a dorm move-in date. My son is wrapping up his summer internship in Boston. NO! NO! NO! It can’t be fall yet! It’s still summer, right!? Let’s all make a pledge to have a few more Chocolate Shoppe Bicycle Benefits Waffle Cones, a few more lazy evenings at the terrace, and a few more sublime, aimless miles on our bikes. September can wait.
The official signed detour on Packers Ave is only for cars. Luckily, a brand new road by the ice arena should make for a groovy, low-stress detour. The northern half has a multi-use path. The entire length has a sidewalk. If you’re a regular rider on N. Sherman, can you give the Roth / Huxley / Commercial detour a try this week to see if there are any hiccups?
In other N. Sherman Ave news, the planned reconstruction near McGuire has been re-scoped and pushed to 2027. See the project page for details.
Milwaukee Street
At this week’s Transportation Commission, the one topic of high interest is Milwaukee St between the Garver Path and Woodman’s. This is the area that is seeing heavy Voit Farms development just to the north.
The files are in Legistar #94298. In a nutshell, the City is proposing a north-side multi-use path coupled with a south-side, eastbound bike lane.
I really like the asymmetric layout. Side paths are nice for all ages & abilities, but they’re often “meh” when they’re on the opposite side of the street from where you are or want to be. This design solves that.
And we all must celebrate that the City is keeping Milwaukee St traffic to one lane in each direction. That’s all the current traffic volume demands, and it will establish Milwaukee St as a “Community Main Street” that will much better serve the new neighborhoods being built up there.
John Nolen Drive
The City plans to re-open North Shore Drive to cars on Wed, Aug 12 with some traffic flows allowed at the intersection with JND. There will be no bike or pedestrian crossings allowed there. The return of traffic to North Shore Drive will make the current detour crossings of that street more hazardous.
On Tuesday Aug 11 at noon, come to the University Bicycle Resource Center (just west of the Memorial Union) for a free session on Getting to Campus Without a Car. This is just the first of a series of fall clinics on fixing flat tires, brakes, and winter biking.
On Tuesday Aug 11 at 6:00pm, the Women’s Cycling Club meets at the Olbrich Biergarten for a Taco Tuesday ride. See their instagram page for details.
Also on Tuesday,Vote.
On Wednesday Aug 12 at 5pm is the Madison Transportation Commission, mentioned in Milwaukee Ave above. The agenda has details and sign up info. But, why attend a dry City Zoom meeting when the Capital Brewery E-bike ride meets at 5:30pm and the Motorless Motion Taco Ride meets at 6:00pm?
On Thursday Aug 13*, your job is to review the Downtown Area Plan so far. The City will soon release draft recommendations but, with so many downtown stakeholders vying for ink, bicycling risks taking a backseat. If you have ideas about how to make bicycling better downtown — practical (two-way cycletrack the length of Broom St), lofty (Capitol Square pump track), or specific (close Gilman St where it crosses State Street) — now’s a good time to put your ideas into words and make the case. * You don’t have to wait until Thursday!
On Friday Aug 14 at 11am is the Machinery Row Lunch Bunch e-bike ride. Where will they eat this week? Come and find out! (and don’t forget Machinery Row’s Sunday 8am Century Training ride. AKA long-distance riding for the rest of us)
The City flipped the stop signs at the Commonwealth Ave crossing! This is a most welcome and sensible change. Commonwealth sees a roughly equal number of cars and bikes each day (about 2000 of each), yet for bikers it’s the equivalent of the beltline highway.
The City will reduce the Odana Rd speed limit to 25 mph between Whitney Way and Monroe Street. The SW Path crossing of Odana Rd has poor visibility and a stubbornly high number of crashes (five since 2021, compared to zero at Glenway St which handles a similar number of vehicles). Let’s hope the speed reduction helps.
Madison’s annual celebration of U-Haul and out-of-state license plates is upon us. As always, let’s welcome our new neighbors. Yes, they will block bike lanes, they will drive the wrong way, and they will signal right while turning left. Please be tolerant, give them space, and maybe offer a helping hand.
Teejop Community Art Project
Finally, the Madison Art Commission just innagurated the Teejop Community Art Project, a series of indigenous artworks placed at parks around Madison. The displays will stay out until November. What does that have to do with biking? Well, nothing except that bicycle is the best way to see them!
I put together this 26-mile ridewithgps route that visits them all and has links and descriptions of the artists taken from this guide. The artworks intentionally don’t have information signs, so keep the links handy to learn about what you’re seeing.
Madison’s Mayor innagurating the Teejop Community Art Project and very thankful to be talking about something other than body cameras.
August is here, and you can feel it in the calendar: long warm evenings, group rides nearly every night of the week, and the biggest car-free party of the summer coming up on Sunday. Before we get to the fun stuff, though, we’ve got a volunteer ask, a somber community meeting, and a construction heads-up.
Help us make smoothies at Ride the Drive!
Ride the Drive is this Sunday, August 9, from 10 AM to 2 PM– the free annual event where motor vehicles are banished from several downtown streets, opening them up to people on bikes and on foot, with activities from all kinds of orgs and vendors along the way. Madison Bikes will have a tent on the Capitol Square, and yes, we will once again be making bike-powered smoothies. Pedal, blend, sip. It’s a good gig.
And that’s where you come in: we need volunteers! We have shifts from 8:30–10 AM for setup, 10 AM-12 PM and 12-2 PM for smoothie-making and chatting with folks about who we are and what we do, and 2-3 PM for cleanup. Every volunteer gets a coveted Ride the Drive tee, plus sunscreen, bug spray, water, and snacks. If you’re interested, please fill out this form or email Dan directly at dan@madisonbikes.org. Thank you!
McFarland traffic safety listening session
On a much more serious note: the Village of McFarland is hosting a Community Listening Session on the future of traffic safety in the village on Thursday, August 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The session comes in the wake of the death of Braeyla Valenza, an 8-year-old bicyclist. You can attend in person at the McFarland Municipal Center, 5915 Milwaukee St, or join via Zoom. If you live, ride, or have family in McFarland, please consider showing up — these sessions are where the direction of local streets actually gets shaped.
Capital City Trail Re-Re-Detour
Construction note: as of 5 AM Monday, North Shore Drive is closed at the railroad crossing on the curve where it becomes Proudfit Street, so that Wisconsin & Southern Railroad can replace the crossing. The bike path and sidewalks at the crossing are closed too — bicyclists and pedestrians are detoured via West Main Street and the Southwest Path. The city scheduled this while the existing North Shore/John Nolen closure is already in place (small mercies), and the whole thing should wrap up and reopen by 6 AM on Friday, August 7. Plan your rides accordingly. My suggestion: If you’re traversing the isthmus, just avoid the whole thing and enjoy the nice Wilson St cycleway instead.
The bike and pedestrian detour around the railroad work zone, in red. (source: City of Madison)
This Week
On Tuesday at 6 PM, join the Madison Women’s Cycling Club Ride. Check their Instagram for this week’s route and meetup location.
On Wednesday from 10 AM to 1 PM, join the Ride for Joe, starting at the Fitchburg Senior Center, 5510 Lacy Rd. Bike Fitchburg, the Fitchburg Senior Center, and the City of Fitchburg Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission host this monthly slow ride in memory of Joe Imilkowski, Bike Fitchburg’s late, long-time director. A lovely way to honor a person clearly important in Fitchburg cycling history.
Also on Wednesday at 5:30 PM, the Capital Brewery E-Bike Club Group Ride rolls out from Capital Brewery in Middleton. In the organizers’ words:
Join us for a high-energy, inclusive, and flat-out fun E-bike group ride! Every Wednesday during the summer at 5:30 pm starting and ending at Capital Brewery in Middleton.
Also on Wednesday at 6 PM, the Motorless Motion Taco Ride meets at the shop at 640 W Washington Ave, rolling out around 6:15. A casual-paced ride, about 6-8 miles, that ends – as the name promises – with tacos.
Later on Wednesday at 6:30 PM, the Greater Madison MPO Policy Board meets virtually. Regional transportation planning may not come with tacos, but it’s where a lot of long-term decisions get made. A few tidbits about future path connections between south side neighborhoods and Fitchburg but otherwise nothing big on the agenda for cycling.
On Friday at 11 AM, join the Lunch Bunch E-Bike Group Ride, a casual ride to a different restaurant or cafe each week. Meet at Machinery Row Bicycles.
On Sunday at 9 AM, pop in to a watch party for the finale stage of the Tour de France Femmes (avec Zwift, bien sur!) at Friends Applaud on the south side. Plenty of time to do this and…
Finally, again, on Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM, it’s the 2026 edition of Ride the Drive! With John Nolen Drive under reconstruction, 2026 gets a redesigned route: start on the Capitol Square, roll down King Street, hang a left onto E Wilson St, and follow Willy St out to McPike Park. Which means you get to navigate the hairball faster and safer than ever before – no cars, no light cycle. See above for our volunteer ask – otherwise, just come find our tent on the Square and enjoy a smoothie you pedaled yourself.
The 2026 route, with hubs at the Capitol Square, the Lakefront Porch, and McPike Park. (source: Madison Parks)
This tragedy has only a minor connection to bicycling, but I feel I can’t write a Monday update without mentioning it. The reason Corey Ruiz was confronted by police in the first place was because someone had reported him for stealing a bike. The person who reported him is absolutely devasted by the outcome.
We have all read about people who had their bike stolen, and how violated and distressed they felt, especially if the bike is someone’s primary transportation. I would never suggest that you shouldn’t file a report if your bike is stolen, but I don’t think anyone wants the result of a reported stolen bike to result in a death. The circumstances are horrible on all fronts.
Path around Limnology finally open
After much frustration and delays — this section was announced to be “open by this afternoon” a month ago, and the entire construction was originally supposed to be finished in the spring — the bike path on the south side of the Limnology building on campus is finally, really, legally open! This path will be wider than the previous one, will not interfere with people entering or exiting the building, and will have better sightlines when headed towards Memorial Union. Pedestrians still pass the building on the north side.
Those of us that use the campus Lakeshore Path as a crucial link to downtown are breathing a bit easier after a very long delay in re-establishing this route.
Bike lanes, lane reductions, and speed cameras are DEI infrastructure, and will no longer be supported at the federal level.
Huh?
The federal Department of Transportation has decided that it will no longer fund or recommend these street treatments and infrastructure. They have removed these items, among others, from the Federal Highway Administration website listing “proven safety countermeasures,” and have announced that there will be no funding for bike and pedestrian projects among the $1.7 billion worth of discretionary grants.
Now, staffers have been asked to scour the FHWA website for any reference to bikes and bike lanes. Many pages and tools that have been used by advocates and researchers for years have already been removed.
Perry St overpass study at the Transportation Commission
This is a long-delayed connection that would provide access across the Beltline between Park St and Fish Hatchery Rd. One alternative would be just a bike-ped overpass, while the other would allow local motor vehicle traffic but no connection to the Beltline.
If you are interested in seeing the alternatives that are being studied, or would like to comment on the need for this connection, take a look at the materials and register to speak.
At this time, this is only a study, and there is no funding to build this connection. There was money for a bike-ped overpass in this location in the early 2000s, but the funds were diverted for other purposes. (This is one of my lingering resentments that I can’t let go.)
MPO Regional Transportation Plan survey – one week left
The Metropolitan Planning Organization – which covers the entire Madison urbanized area – is updating its Regional Transportation Plan. The second set of public meetings will be in October, but the survey for the plan is closing at the end of July. If you’d like to take the survey and provide comments on what your transportation priorities are, where money should be spent, and how the region should move around in the future, you can find the survey on their website.
Don’t forget to vote!
All that talk about federal policy reminds me that one way you can improve things in the community is by voting. Did you know that the partisan primary for statewide and local offices is Aug 11?
You have probably heard more than you want about the governor’s race, but parties will be selecting their candidates for a number of other offices for the general election in November, including the state senate and assembly, U.S. House, and a variety of statewide offices. Whoever is elected in November will be making decisions on the local, state, and national level that can affect bicycling policies and funding.
In-person absentee voting starts Tuesday for the Aug 11 primary. If you live in Madison, there are many locations where you can vote early. If you live outside the city, want to check where your polling place is located, what’s on the ballot, or make sure you are registered, go to myvote.wi.gov for all that info.
Ride the Drive still needs volunteers
If you want to help with the Aug 9 event, the city Parks department is still looking for a few more volunteers. You can sign up on the Ride the Drive website. If you’d like to help us out at the Madison Bikes booth on the Square, where we’ll be making bike-powered smoothies, contact Dan@madisonbikes.org.
Rides and gatherings this week:
Find a group, time, or riding style that fits you. Here’s what we have on the Community Calendar for this week. You can get more information – starting location, time, distance, type of ride, etc. – by going to the calendar.
When you open this newsletter, the air quality will likely still be mediocre. Please protect yourself as best as you can. Reduce your time outdoors, wear a mask, build/buy an indoor air filter. And of course, continue your advocacy against climate change.
Looking for Ride the Drive Volunteers
Bike-powered smoothies at Ride the Drive
Madison Bikes will be at the Ride the Drive on Sunday, Aug 9. We’ll bring the bike-powered smoothie maker to the Capitol Square and still need a few volunteers to help with setup, smoothie operations, and cleanup. Sign up to volunteer with Madison Bikes here.
Public Input Meeting for Franklin Ave
On Monday, 7/20, there will be a public input meeting for the reconstruction of S Franklin Ave on the near west side, between Regent and Speedway, as well as two side streets, Sylvan and Ridge. These streets currently don’t have a curb and gutter and mostly lack sidewalks. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and is happening on Zoom.
Middleton Seeking Input on Active Transportation Plan
The City of Middleton is in the process of creating an active transportation plan and wants to hear from you. Whether you live or work in Middleton or visit there, consider providing feedback, either at two upcoming public meetings or via an online survey. The first meeting is on Thursday, 7/23.
The draft Active Transportation Plan provides a long-term vision for improving walking, biking, rolling, and transit throughout Middleton. The plan identifies opportunities to make it easier, safer, and more convenient for people of all ages and abilities to travel throughout the community while supporting a transportation network that better connects neighborhoods, parks, schools, businesses, and community destinations.
Middleton Night Market Pop-Up Thursday, July 23, 5–8: p.m., Stone Horse Green Open House: Northside Elementary School, Wednesday, August 5, 6–7 p.m. Open House: Parisi Park, Monday, August 10, 6–7 p.m.
Residents who are unable to attend an in-person event can review the draft plan and complete the online survey between July 16 and August 16. The draft plan and survey are available at: https://cityofmiddleton.us/392/Active-Transportation-Plan
Midvale Closure to Begin
Starting on Monday resurfacing work on Midvale Blvd, between University Ave and Mineral Point Road, will begin. While one lane of traffic will remain open throughout the construction period, it’s probably a good idea to seek out alternative bike routes.
In case you missed it, this construction project at some point was supposed to include the addition of painted bike lanes. This would have required the removal of car parking. The two area alders, Bill Tishler and Regina Vidaver, eventually scuttled the plan and pushed bike improvements to a full reconstruction of the street, timeline unknown. The current reconstruction does come with much needed pedestrian crossing improvements and more cleanly delineated, narrower travel lanes.
High School Transportation Ambassadors
Last year, the Wisconsin Bike Fed launched a high school “Transportation Ambassadors” program. This is a yearlong, paid internship for students at MMSD high school. The students build up their advocacy skills and work on a project to improve active transportation at their school. The first cohort just graduated, and you should read this great article about them and their work!
BMX is Back (Almost)
Dane County lost its only BMX track a few years ago. But now Madtown BMX has a new home, at Angell Park in Sun Prairie. Their new track is scheduled to be open by September.
No Turn on Red
As reported in last week’s newsletter, the Transportation Commission received a briefing on No Turn on Red at their Wednesday meeting. The presentation and ensuing discussion are worth watching.
Meet Former Pro Cyclist Kerry Helmuth
On Thursday (7.23), former pro cyclist Kerry Helmuth will read from her book, Willkie Sprint, at Capital Brewery Beer Garden in Middleton. Machinery Row’s Century Training Club will bike to the event from Madison, or you can go straight to the event at 7 PM:
When: Group ride leaves from Machinery Row @ 5:30pm, Event starts @ 7:00 p.m.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Details: Kerry Helmuth will be reading a selection from her book, Willkie Sprint, and will be autographing copies. She will have a limited quantity of copies available at the event for purchase. She will also be speaking with event participants about her career as a professional cyclist and about promoting women’s cycling.
We should be designing our streets for the future that we want to build. The decisions made in the Regent St design will impact the way that we move around our city for the next 30+ years. At Madison Bikes, we believe parking should never take priority over people. We also believe in standing up for vulnerable road users when they are not given enough consideration. On July 16th, Madison Bikes shared the following statement with city staff:
Dear City of Madison Staff,
On June 9th, 2026, Madison Common Council unanimously approved a redesign of Regent St that excludes dedicated bicycle facilities despite the clear priorities established in the Complete Green Streets (CGS) policy. Complete Green Streets, a framework for street design adopted by the city in 2023, identifies safe accommodations for people biking and walking/rolling as a higher priority than on-street parking.
In the Regent St redesign, city staff and leaders had the opportunity to leverage the CGS guidance to create a new paradigm for street design in Madison. Instead, the policy was used to double down on the status quo, prioritizing parking and vehicle convenience over vulnerable road users.
This decision comes at a time when traffic violence continues to devastate our community. In recent months, Madison has lost multiple vulnerable road users, including 17-year-old Sasha Rosen, killed while crossing Park St, and Ken Bell, killed while crossing E. Washington Ave. In the face of these preventable tragedies, the city should be strengthening protections for people who walk and bike, not retreating from them.
The approved design abandons the guidance in at least 5 ways without including a checklist or justification for the decisions:
CGS says loading zones should be provided “around the corner on intersecting minor streets.” The proposed geometry has loading zones only on Regent St itself.
CGS says that bike lanes “should be included and may require consideration of parking options on side streets or in structured parking” and the proposed geometry has no bike lanes.
CGS says Community Main Streets must have a maximum lane width of 10′ (CGS guide, page 60). The proposed geometry has 14′ lanes, wider than an Interstate highway.
CGS says that Regent St should prioritize large canopy trees, (CGS guide, page 27) however more full canopy trees could have been included if not for street parking.
CGS says that for Transit Priority Networks, “designs will prioritize in-lane stops that do not require buses to merge back into traffic.” The proposed geometry includes bus pull-outs instead.
The Common Council received several alternative proposals, and despite vocal and widespread opposition to the adopted plan, unanimously voted against the city’s own design policy. While the plan is an improvement from the existing configuration, it’s not the best we can do. The adopted plan could lead to higher traffic speeds, enable more dangerous driving behavior, and encourage biking on the sidewalk. All of this could create a more hostile environment for people who are trying to access the businesses and amenities on Regent St. Madison Bikes is deeply disappointed in this decision and urges city leaders to reconsider it.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Madison has previously approved street designs that deviate from its own CGS principles, undermining public trust and calling into question the city’s commitment to its stated transportation and safety goals:
After four years of tumult, Midvale resurfacing is now going ahead without bike lanes called for in city plans since 1975. This is a HUGE missed opportunity and sets back bike/ped safety on the near West side by 10-20 years.
A road diet on Mineral Point Rd east of Midvale is also facing pushback due to the same political forces as Midvale.
Current plans for the North-South BRT do not have accommodations for bicycle facilities despite Park St having many destinations and a lack of alternatives to reach them. This includes the segments of Park St where bus/bike lanes were re-signed to be “bus only”, without getting the required input or approval from TC.
Madison Bikes calls on city leaders to establish a clear process for using the CGS checklist, including justification for any departures from the requirements, reverse the decision to exclude bicycle facilities from the Regent St project, and recommit to the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Madison Bikes also asks that we be included and consulted on future street redesign projects so we can ensure vulnerable road users are given appropriate consideration.
Madison Bikes requests that, at the minimum, the city fix the last block problem for bicyclists. The last block problem is akin to the last mile problem in transit: how do you complete a multimodal trip? In the case of Regent St, bicyclists were repeatedly told the SW Path was just a block away from Regent St so there should not be a problem getting to destinations on Regent St. The problem with that assumption is: how are bicyclists supposed to make the transition from biking to walking to get to a destination on Regent St and where will they park?
There are currently only twelve public bike parking spaces on or near Regent St (4 on Orchard St and 8 on Regent St) and few Regent St properties provide bike parking. There are also no bike share stations on or directly adjacent to Regent St. Will new development projects for Regent St require adequate public bike parking to serve area businesses and visitors to the housing units? Will additional bike parking be added on the side streets near Regent St or perhaps in back of businesses? Without a bike parking plan, the current plan will encourage bicyclists to ride on the sidewalk (which is illegal on Regent St where buildings abut the sidewalk) and lock their bikes to sign posts. Both undermine the efforts to make Regent St more pedestrian friendly. The current plan lacks consideration for visitors and residents traveling by bike, and dismisses the need for bicycle facilities because there are intersecting bike routes and a wide sidewalk.
Policies only matter if they are consistently followed. Madison residents deserve streets that reflect the city’s commitments to safety, sustainability, and transportation choice.
Cyclists used to crusing along Lake Monona will have to get used to Monona Bay via the new detour. (MB stock photo)
It’s tough to write about another traffic death but you need to know and the family wants improvements in bike/ped safety. On a positive note, the jurisdictional transfer of connecting highways could make possible and/or hasten improvements that could improve safety and prevent these horrendous events.
Another Tragic Bicycle Death
Braeyla Valenza (photo: Mckenzie Valenza)
Tragically, 8-year-old Braeyla Valenza died after being hit by a person driving a car on Wednesday. She was headed home with her brother from a trip to Culvers, “a common occurrence with all the kids in the neighborhood” according to her mother. Braeyla was struck while attempting to cross Broadhead St (County MN) in McFarland on her bicycle. Her family and the community are heartbroken.
Braeyla’s father is calling for improvements to the intersection, calling out the poorly marked crosswalk. He also stated, “We all need to slow down and be aware of our surroundings.” Braeyla’s mother stated that speeding on Broadhead is “problematic,” a sentiment echoed by others in the neighborhood. Speed may have contributed to the crash, but a police investigation is underway.
Mourners gather to remember Braeyla Valenza at the site where she was struck and killed by a car in Mc Farland. Purple was her favorite color (photo: Craig Weinhold, Facebook)
Chip Sealing in Districts 15 and 19
It’s that time of year again. Chip sealing is underway. Chip sealing involves applying a layer of gravel to the street to preserve the pavement but makes for slippery, dusty conditions for bicyclists. The roads impacted are mostly in districts 15 and 19, and include the Lake Loop and other roads frequented by bicyclists. Use caution or try to avoid these roads if you can for the next few weeks. If you must use the sidewalk, remember that bicyclists must always yield to pedestrians. Maps of the impacted areas are below.
A fairly light agenda this Wednesday at 5PM. A couple of items of interest:
The jurisdictional transfer agreement between the Wisconsin DOT and the City of Madison. Wisconsin DOT would still need to approve the plan this fall, but if all goes well, Madison would take control of some connecting highways in the city. Specifically, this would be S. Park, Blair, the section of JND that travels under Monona Terrace, Northshore, Proudfit, W Washington. Highway 151 would be routed onto the beltline and the interstate. These changes would give the city more control over design, making it much easier for the city to plan long term strategies for these roads and implement safety strategies such as installing traffic signals on South Park. Here’s a discussion of the proposal on WORT which includes a link to Madison Director of Transportation Christoph Spieler’s description of the proposal to the Public Works Committee.
An update and discussion of no turn on red (NTOR). The staff presentation includes background and rationale for right turn on red and NTOR restrictions, a summary of research and national practice, and a review of Madison’s use of NTOR
John Nolen Drive (JND) Path Closes Tonight (July 13)
The implementation of Phase 1 of the master plan refinement continues. JND will be closed to build three new bicycle bridges and new bikeways and walkways. The section of the JND Path between Lakeside St and Broom St will close overnight on Monday, July 13 and will remain closed for approximately a year. The John Nolen Dr crossing at North Shore Dr and The Capital City Trail between S Bedford St and E Lakeside St have been removed until the project is completed. A detour route (see map below) comprised of low stress shared use paths and bicycle boulevards, will be posted around Monona Bay. While this route adds about 1.5 miles to your trip, it is relatively peaceful and now it’s not out of your way to stop at the Lakeside coffee shop.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. The path will reopen in July or August of 2027. When it reopens, the path will be transformed by the following improvements:
The bike path will be widened to 10 feet
There will be separate paths for bicyclists and pedestrians
Bikes and pedestrian paths will be located farther from the roadway
Motor vehicle speeds will be lower.
Eventually, when shoreline and other improvements are completed, bicycles and pedestrians will be traveling through a beautiful 37-acre linear park.
Map of the 2026-2027 JND detour (City of Madison)
Shaping Safer Streets: Help Madison Prevent Impaired Driving
Impaired driving causes significant morbidity and mortality in Madison. During 2023, 2024 and 2025 there were 861 total crashes that were flagged for impairment resulting in 18 fatalities and 416 injuries. Cyclists and other vulnerable users are at the highest risk of injury because they lack the structural protection of a motor vehicle.
Impaired Driving is preventable and can be reduced using countermeasures, such as designated driver programs and safety-designed alcohol retail laws. See the data on impaired driving here.
There are two upcoming opportunities to get involved:
Visit a Library Tabling Event: Stop by a local library to learn about Vision Zero’s Impaired Driving Prevention Program.
Participate in a focus group. Help the City of Madison’s Transportation and Public Health departments formulate campaign messages and ride share options. These one-hour sessions occur between July 13 and August 7 at four libraries. You get a $25 gift card for your efforts.
For more information or to sign up for a focus group follow this this link.
Vision Zero Update
The latest quarterly Vision Zero Newsletter is out. It’s a fairly quick read (6 pages) and explains a couple of recent reconstruction projects and has an overview of curb management, and signage. If you want more, like me, the Vision Zero Progress Report is also worth reading. It’s a 39-page update from 2022-2024 whereas the previous update was 2020-2022. The current update is a great reference to have at your fingertips that provides background, data, and rationale for the city’s actions. It gives detail and illustrations for individual projects as illustrated below.
An example of illustrations for the Wilson St Cycle Track (Vision Zero Progress Report)
The report has lots of references and detailed data, although, unfortunately, most of these are not hyperlinked.
Most of the time progress on improving our bike/ped infrastructure seems glacial. Reading this report helped me realize that although we have a long way to go, there is progress.
Watch the Tour at Cafe Domestique
Tour de France public viewing
Café Domestique – Northstreet
Saturday, July 18 8:00 – 10:00am
Come watch some pro bike racing at @cafedomestiquemadison (North Street location) this year! BD will be hosting watch parties for 4 races this year. We’ll be starting at 8am, and watching along live to the finish (usually about the last 1.5-2 hours).
Everyone is welcome, whether you know the whole Lidl Trek roster by heart or you don’t know Le Tour from Pierre Latour. Grab a coffee and chit chat with some likeminded cycling fans
Next week we’ll be asking you to help Madison Bikes staff our booth on the square on August 9. We’ll offer a link to sign up in our update. That’s it for the update. Stay cool!
This week in Madison Bikes news: where the candidates for Governor stand on bike issues, a call for volunteers along the SW Path, plenty of group rides to join, and some news on street design from John Nolen Drive to Regent Street.
Gubernatorial Candidates on Active Transportation
2026 is an important year, with an ongoing race for Governor. You might be wondering where the candidates stand on active transportation issues like bike infrastructure, trail funding, and e-mobility. The Wisconsin Bike Fed sent all candidates from both parties a policy questionnaire and compiled the responses into a two-part summary.
The good news: candidates who responded (Barnes, Crowley, Hong, Rodriguez, and Roys) largely agree on restoring Wisconsin’s Complete Streets law, allowing eminent domain for bike/ped paths, and fully funding the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Where they differ is more nuanced: traffic safety cameras, how to regulate e-motos, and how to plug the long-term funding gap at the DNR.
The primary election is August 11, 2026 — mark your calendar.
Invasive Plant Cleanup Crew
Invasive species reduce biodiversity by outcompeting native species and taking over ecosystems. This causes a ripple effect that harms ecosystems and makes them less resilient, and can be damaging to services humans rely on like soil fertility and fresh water. You can help, however, in preserving native plans and removing invasive ones here in our city along a core bike facility:
Are you interested in preserving native plants along the SW Path? Would you like to help remove non-native plants like garlic mustard and dames rocket along the SW Path? If yes, please join the SW Path Invasive Plant Removal Team google group.
The group is for people interested in removing invasive non-native plants and maintaining native plants along the SW Path in Madison, WI, from the Beltline to Midvale Boulevard and in the Odana Woods along the SW Path connector. People can post information about work parties, techniques for removing troublesome invasive species, native species to plant, plant identification, webinars, seminars, City of Madison Programs, and any other information about maintaining native plants along the SW Path.
For questions or to join the group, send an email to Mark Shahan at mnshahan@gmail.com.
Group Rides
Summer is in full swing, meaning there are plenty of group rides to join. Cycling fans will be aware that the Tour de France started on Saturday with an exciting team time trial, and those who feel inspired to get out and ride might consider joining one of the following:
Mondays at 6pm, join Cap City Cyclists on their weekly social ride. Wednesdays, join the Capital Brewery E- Bike Club Group Ride (5:30 pm) or the Motorless Motion Taco Ride (6 pm). Or join Machinery Row for their weekly Friday Lunch Bunch E-bike ride (11 am), or their Sunday Century Training Club ride (8am).
Build for the Future We Want
As construction on the John Nolen Drive causeway progresses, the next phase just to the South is already on our minds, and we want to make sure it’s designed safely and appropriately. Board member Craig Weinhold shared this piece of information:
Remember how in late 2024, the City did a lane reduction test on John Nolen Drive between Olin and the causeway? The hypothesis was that there there was little value in having three lanes between Olin Ave and the two-lane causeway. Well, the City’s results were great and proved the hypothesis, but… the City is being told they must stick to three lanes anyway because WisDOT doesn’t like “expected future conditions in 2050.” You can follow this amazing exchange at 1:35:20 into the June 17 Transportation Commission meeting.
A two-lane John Nolen Drive north of Olin Avenue has many benefits: space for a west side path, Wingra Creek underpass improvements, more buffer around the railroad tracks, and less aggressive behavior as drivers enter/leave the causeway. As T.C. and Madison Bikes member Harald Kliems reacted, “We should build the types of streets for the future that we want” and that if we build a bigger street to handle increased volume, then “that’s what we’re going to get.“
Building for a future that’s less dependent on cars is exactly what we need to do, but we’re still facing the reality that cars and parking are being prioritized over vulnerable road users. Last month, Common Council unanimously approved a redesign of Regent Street that excludes dedicated bicycle facilities despite the clear priorities established in the Complete Green Streets policy. Complete Green Streets, a framework for street design that was adopted by the city in 2023, identifies safe accommodations for people biking and walking/rolling as a higher priority than on-street parking, yet the approved design abandons that guidance without a transparent or well-defined variance process. Among several other variances, the proposed design has 14′ traffic lanes (which are wider than an interstate highway!) and keeps lanes for parking on both sides of the street.
The Common Council had several alternative plans available, and despite vocal and widespread opposition to the adopted plan, unanimously voted for it and against the city’s own design policy. The adopted plan will lead to higher traffic speeds, allow for more dangerous driving behavior, and create a more hostile environment for people who are trying to access the businesses and amenities on Regent Street. The City should be strengthening protections for people who walk and bike, not retreating from them.
City council reps, community members, and Madison Transportation Department staff cut the ribbon on the new Tancho Bike Path Friday at an event to celebrate its completion. Photo courtesy Paul Lata.
‘Ride’ Madison’s newest bike path
What’s that? You couldn’t make it to the ribbon-cutting celebration (hosted by Madison Bikes, Oakwood Prairie Ridge and Sun Prairie Moves) for the Tancho Bike Path? Then you may not necessarily know what’s so great about a short stretch of paved path on the far east side of Madison.
You’re in luck! This video tour, produced by Harald Kliems, is the next best thing to being there. And Harald will fill you in on the importance of this new Madison- Sun Prairie connection as you go.
Bike safe in the heat
The National Weather Service is forecasting pizza-oven temps with pea-soup humidity this week, featuring highs mostly over 90 and lows hardly ever below 70. When we think about bike safety, vehicle traffic feels like the most pressing concern. But bicycling is active transportation, and getting around under your own power is only more fraught when the weather is trying to melt you onto your saddle.
Hydrate! There were times when I wondered if my basic training drill sergeants knew any English phrases other than “DRINK WATER!” But, darn it if they weren’t onto something. You gotta replenish the fluids you feel soaking into your clothes or you will never make it to that ice cream reward.
Plan ahead! Do you need to ride on Wednesday? It’s going to be 78° F — “F,” indeed! — at 8 a.m. That’s gross, but it sure beats the 91° forecast for 2 p.m. Pick the coolest times to pedal.
Park in the shade, if you can. Those stylish black metal and leather parts of your ride will reach scorching temps if they sit in the sun for hours. Spare yourself a yelp and the extra heat by finding a spot out of the sun.
Keep on stoppin’
Regular readers may recall last week’s newsletter, when Craig Weinhold asked, “Is there a lawyer in the house?” Craig wanted help interpreting § 346.37(1)(c)2 — specifically, “No … bicyclist … facing [a red light] shall enter … the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.” — to see if it counts as a “red-light-as-stop,” a version of what is also known as an “Idaho Stop.”
Several astute legal philosophers who saw Craig’s post pointed out that for a bicyclist to enter the roadway, they would first need to be not on the roadway. Which is to say, this law applies only to bikers on sidewalks or paths. It goes back to 1985 and was one of several law changes to give bicyclists on sidewalks the same rights as pedestrians. So, no, red lights are still red lights. If we want to treat them like stop signs, Craig says, we need to keep pushing for statewide Idaho Stop legislation.
Construction updates
Virginia Terrace, a Regent Street tributary just south of Madison West High School, will experience a brief-but-major construction project starting July 6.
Thomas Murphy notes that signs are up announcing the closure of UW–Madison’s Lot 39 for resurfacing. That’s near Linden Drive and the north end of the Campus Drive bike/pedestrian overpass, and may require some creative noodling for access.
The Vigilante Grammarian at work. Credit: Joy Cardin via Facebook
Madison’s summer is in high gear with Concerts on the Square, Farmers’ Markets, Parks Alive, and too many celebrations and parties to count. Make Music Madison was delightful, despite the drizzly weather. This week, be sure to stop in at the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Carving Festival at Monona’s San Damiano. It’s free and really convenient for anyone biking around Lake Monona.
Tancho Path Ribbon Cutting
At last, the Tancho Path is complete. To celebrate, Madison Bikes, Oakwood Prairie Ridge, and Sun Prairie Moves are hosting a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge Campus, 5565 Tancho Dr.
The path connects to the new 23-mile Sun Prairie Bike Loop and existing bike infrastructure on Madison’s far east side. Oakwood Prairie Ridge expects residents to use it often, especially those who previously had limited places to ride or had to use less comfortable routes, such as Hoepker Rd and American Parkway, to reach shopping, dining, and other local businesses. Older residents with mobility limitations who participate in Oakwood’s Cycling Without Age program will also have access to longer and more varied routes. See short video clips of their comments here.
The public ribbon-cutting will include remarks from District 17 Alder Sabrina Madison, City of Sun Prairie Alder Maureen Crombie, Prairie Ridge resident Ed Grys, and City of Madison Director of Transportation Christof Spieler. Oakwood will provide refreshments. Because the path will make it easier for bicyclists to reach Bicycle Benefits locations in Sun Prairie, Madison Bikes will give away a limited number of Bicycle Benefits stickers at the event. Join the fun on Friday!
Coming up
It’ll be a quiet week in Lake Madison…
Tuesday, June 23, 6:30pm, Madison Common Council Agenda shows the only business of note is to vote to adopt the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans. These plans represent over a year of work and public engagement, and they’re pretty good. See more detail about Elver Park below.
Wednesday, June 24, 4:30 – 6:00pm, Madison Parks, 330 E. Lakeside St. Madison LakeWay Public Art Meet and Greet. Madison LakeWay is choosing public art for the John Nolen Drive path; come join the process and see what the artists have proposed.
Wednesday June 24, 6:00pm, the Middleton Conservancy Lands Committee (Zoom) will discuss path and trail design standards, principally within the Pheasant Branch Creek Area. See Mark Opitz’s post on Facebook for more detail.
Quick Notes
A hairball traffic signal is down. (ouch)
The E. Mifflin temporary diverter at Patterson is back. (facebook)
The Lakeshore Path Limnology bypass is still fenced in. (sigh)
Any lawyers in the house? Take a look at § 346.37(1)(c)2 “No … bicyclist … facing [a red light] shall enter … the roadway unless he or she can do so safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic.” Doesn’t that sound identical to the “Red Light-as-Stop” part of the Idaho Stop law?
Elver Park Master Plan
I noticed some opposition to the Southwest area plan from X-C skiers because the plan calls for new paved paths into Elver Park and, at quick glance, some of the new paths seem to cross existing ski trails. But there are two important things to keep in mind:
First, the City will soon be kicking off Elver Park’s own Master Plan process this year to figure out Elver Park expansion (55 new acres!), a new southern entrance, new X-C ski trails, and the new path connectivity. Given the large number of skiiers who also bike (and vice-versa), I hope we all stay factual and collaborative, and avoid unnecessary alarm.
Second, the paths shown on the maps of the Southwest Area Plan are conceptual and not surveyed path routes. Here is a mash-up showing those new conceptual paths overlayed on the current ski trail system:
Last fall, Paul and I looked at these lines closely and walked / surveyed the grades. Here’s what we found:
The path to the south to Mid Town Rd will not impact current X-C ski trails. This would be year-round and is the most critical of the new connections, becoming a new main route to the Ice Age Junction trail and Verona and serving 1000’s of new housing units in the developments south of Mid-Town Rd. Ideally, the final routing will avoid the steep climb to S. Gammon Rd.
The path that goes south then west to Valley Ridge Park is doable and won’t impact current X-C ski trails, but it’s going to be an engineering challenge to make it comfortable and safe. It is second most important path, connecting 100’s of residents whose neighborhood is currently locked in by High Point Rd, an uncomfortable biking road. It should be a year-round plowed path.
The path to the north (New Washburn Way) is far too steep (6%) to be built as shown, so it will need big changes and will likely intersect X-C ski trails in the area. This is also the least important path since the neighborhoods served already have safe routes to Elver Park via sidewalk and bike lane. It can likely remain a seasonal, unplowed path.
The path east from Valley Ridge Park to the Elver parking lot would be really useful but doesn’t need to be a year-round, plowed path since the longer path to the south is available.
Finally, even though the new paths might not impact existing X-C trails, plowing of the existing paths in Elver Park will. Perhaps the trickiest part of the Master Plan will be to identify the year-round plowed path that best minimizes X-C trail rerouting and eliminates intersections. This challenge will likely require at least one grade-separated, such as a bridge set into the hill so the plowed path can cross under the X-C ski trails.
I’m excited for the future Elver Park Master Plan and am looking forward to exploring all the possibilities more fully with my X-C friends.
Ride the Drive Volunteers Needed
Ride the Drive requires more than 200 volunteers, and you can still be part of this year’s event on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Help create a welcoming, vibrant experience for 15,000 participants by guiding people at intersections, staffing a booth, or assisting with setup and cleanup. Shifts are fun and just two hours long, leaving plenty of time to volunteer and enjoy the ride. This year only, volunteers will receive both a 2025 hot pink T-shirt and a 2026 T-shirt, with the color to be announced.
Visit ridethedrive.com for additional information about the event including maps, vendor information, and more. Click Here to: BECOME a VOLUNTEER
Riders roll out on the 2021 Pride Ride through Madison’s near east side (h/t Cyclists of Madison)
School’s out, the days are long, and the trails are full — summer in Madison has officially arrived. With the kids off for the season, it feels like a good moment to think about how we get around town, who we build our streets for, and where the next round of improvements is headed. There’s a lot of that in this week’s edition, so clip in.
One quick thing before we dig in: If you got out and rode during Bike Week or if you helped run an event, the organizers would love to hear how it went! Please take a few minutes to fill out the feedback survey — it really does help us shape next year.
Transportation Commission, and a stacked Wednesday agenda
The big one this week is the Transportation Commission, meeting Wednesday at 5 PM, and the agenda is loaded with stuff we care about. A few highlights worth your attention (and, if you’ve got the energy, a public comment):
The West Towne Path piece (this is Phase 2b) fills in the gap along the Beltline behind the mall, picking up where the existing West Towne Path starts at S Whitney Way. An important connector through a stretch that’s long needed it.
On John Nolen, the Phase 2 design includes a reworked Lakeside Street intersection: smaller corner radii, narrower lanes, a shorter crossing of John Nolen Drive, and more room for people walking and biking.
Bicycle network map for the West Towne Path corridor — the green is this project. (source: City of Madison Engineering)Proposed improvements to the Lakeside Street Intersection at John Nolen Drive.
This Week
On Monday at 6 PM, join the MPO Regional Transportation Plan Public Involvement Meeting over Zoom. The Greater Madison MPO is updating the region’s long-range transportation plan — the document that guides transportation investments and priorities for the next 20–30 years — so this is a real chance to weigh in. Can’t make Monday? There’s a second session on Wednesday at noon. There’s also an online survey and an interactive comment map; find them on the city’s Regional Transportation Plan page. The Cap Times has a good rundown of what’s at stake.
Also on Wednesday at 5:30 PM, roll out with the Capital Brewery E-Bike Club Group Ride, starting and ending at Capital Brewery in Middleton. It runs every Wednesday through the summer — billed as a “high-energy, inclusive, and flat-out fun” ride out on the trails.
On Friday at 11 AM, check out the Lunch Bunch E-Bike Group Rides, a casual roll to a different restaurant or cafe each week. They always meet at Machinery Row Bicycles.
Finally, on Sunday at 8 AM, join the Century Training Club, also at Machinery Row. Signed up for a long-distance ride this year? This is a friendly, supportive group built to help you stack up the miles and build your endurance.
Other Stuff
The Wisconsin Bike Fed is hiring — shout out to the folks over there; if that’s your lane, take a look. Could be you!
A couple of items from Craig on Slack:
With schools out, it’s a good time to reflect on schools and biking. The Wisconsin State Journal spotlighted Lake View phy-ed teacher James Kersten, who built a bike fleet and a trail system aimed squarely at income disparities — Kersten estimated about 60% of his students had never ridden a bike before. Meanwhile, Madison’s Safe Routes to School draft strategic plan is moving forward, with close involvement from the Bike Fed’s Shawn Koval and the city’s Kevin Luecke. And the 2024 school facilities referendum will completely rebuild Cherokee, Sennett, Black Hawk, and Toki middle schools (Toki’s initial design was presented last month) and renovate many more.
It’ll take parents, neighbors, and advocates to make sure these projects lead to more biking and walking to school, not less. A few things to watch for: compliance with the Safe Routes to School plan, especially around drop-off/pick-up traffic flow; updating bike parking to meet current city code (past school projects had their substandard bike parking quantities “grandfathered” in); coordinating with adjacent city projects; and pushing MMSD to make bike education mandatory at all elementary schools.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg dug into the rise in pedestrian fatalities through the work of Nick Ferenchak, an engineering professor at the University of New Mexico. Beyond the usual suspects — SUV and truck bloat, distracted driving — Ferenchak points to the “suburbanization of poverty” as a major factor. As he frames it:
So now you have lower-income populations living there who might not have motor vehicles. They need to walk, and they’re doing it in a suburban setting that is not designed to accommodate them.
It’s a sobering read, and a reminder that street design is a safety-and-equity issue, not just a convenience one.
